Summary
An HIV‐infected patient was diagnosed with acute hepatitis E infection in our hospital. An epidemiological inquiry was performed to collect demographic, food and animal exposure variables in ...order to identify the potential route of transmission. The patient reported that his family traditionally hunted wild boar for food. All family members were analysed for hepatitis E virus infection. Additionally, route of transmission by wild boar meat consumption and prevalence of HEV infection among wild boar from the same hunting area were investigated. In all‐family members (n = 8), HEV‐RNA was amplified. Two wild boar meat slices consumed was analysed, showing the presence of HEV. The virus isolated was consistent with genotype 3, revealing 100% homology between family members and meat. Additionally, we tested nine wild boar hunted in the same hunting area. All of them were RNA‐HEV positive, isolating the same HEV genotype 3 viral strain. We demonstrated by phylogenetic analysis zoonotic transmission of HEV by wild boar meat consumption. The prevalence of HEV infection among wild boar found in our study suggests that this species is an important route of transmission to human.
Objectives
There are scant data on the progression of hepatic steatosis (HS) in HIV infection. We therefore evaluated changes in HS over time in HIV‐infected patients using the controlled attenuation ...parameter (CAP).
Methods
A prospective cohort of 326 HIV‐infected patients was included in this study. All patients underwent a CAP measurement. Changes in steatosis were evaluated by calculating the median (Q1–Q3) difference between baseline and 12‐month CAP values.
Results
The median (Q1–Q3) CAP was 221 (196–252) dB/m at baseline and 224 (198–257) dB/m at the 12‐month visit (P = 0.617). Significant steatosis, that is, CAP ≥ 238 dB/m, was observed in 76 individuals (37%) at baseline and in 80 (39%) at the 12‐month visit (P = 0.683). The following variables were associated with ΔCAP: plasma HIV RNA < 50 vs. ≥ 50 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL: median (Q1–Q3) ΔCAP, 4 (−21, 27) vs. −21 (−49, 4) dB/m, respectively; P = 0.024; body mass index (BMI) no increase vs. increase: −13 (−40, 4) vs. 14 (−6, 32) dB/m, respectively; P < 0.001; triglycerides no increase vs. increase: −1 (−30, 22) vs. 15 (−3, 40) dB/m, respectively; P = 0.001; fasting plasma glucose not impaired vs. impaired: −4 (−31, 16) vs. 30 (15, 49) dB/m, respectively; P < 0.001; and raltegravir no vs. yes: 5 (−20, 29) vs. −11 (−37.5, 15) dB/m, respectively; P = 0.018. The only factor independently associated with ΔCAP was BMI B (standard error): 9.03 (1.9); P < 0.001.
Conclusions
Increases in CAP values over a period of 12 months in HIV‐infected patients were strongly associated with elevations in BMI. Other metabolic factors and antiretroviral drugs were not predictors of CAP changes independent of BMI.
Summary
Diagnosis of acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is established by detection of anti‐HEV IgM antibodies by ELISA or by amplification of serum viral RNA. Here, we evaluate the diagnostic ...value of testing HEV RNA in saliva to identify patients with acute HEV infection. Prospective proof‐of‐concept study including patients with acute hepatitis. Whole blood and neat saliva samples were obtained from all patients. Saliva samples were processed and analysed for HEV RNA by RT‐PCR within 2 hr after collection. A total of 34 patients with acute hepatitis and 12 healthy donors were included in the study. HEV RNA in serum was confirmed by RT‐PCR in eight of these patients (23.5%; 95% CI: 12.2%–40.2%). HEV was isolated in the saliva of eight of 34 patients (23.5%; 95% CI: 12.2%–40.2%). All patients with HEV RNA amplified in saliva had detectable HEV RNA in serum. HEV was isolated neither in the saliva of any of the 26 patients without detectable HEV RNA in serum nor in healthy donors. Our study suggests that acute HEV infection could be diagnosed by assessing viral load in saliva.
Objectives
Spain is close to HCV microelimination, so rates of recently acquired HCV infection (RAHC) should decrease. Nowadays, men who have sex with men (MSM) carry the highest risk of HCV ...acquisition. Our aim was to estimate the incidence of and the factors associated with RAHC, together with reinfection rates, among patients sexually infected by HIV.
Methods
Primary RAHC infection was diagnosed when anti‐HCV antibody seroconversion was documented. In anti‐HCV positive patients, initially without HCV viraemia, a diagnosis of reinfection was established if plasma HCV RNA was detected.
Results
All 350 patients tested negative for anti‐HCV at baseline and had at least one follow‐up visit. Among them, there were 16 RAHC cases from 2016 to 2019. RAHC incidence rates IR (95% confidence interval, CI) per 100 person‐years were 3.77 (0.5–12.9) in 2016, 1.85 (0.6–4.3) in 2017, 1.49 (0.4–3.8) in 2018 and 1.98 (0.6–4.5) in 2019. Only previous sexually transmitted infections incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 18.23, 95% CI: 1.93–172.1; P = 0.011, male sex (IRR = 8.33, 95% CI: 1.38–54.15; P = 0.026) and sharing chem‐sex drugs (IRR: 4.93, 95% CI: 1.17–20.76; P = 0.030), were independently associated with RAHC. Four out of 42 (9.5%) patients became reinfected.
Conclusions
The incidence of RAHC among HIV‐infected patients showed a decrease after 2016, although a lower but steady incidence of residual cases still remains. HCV reinfections showed a similar pattern. New infections were associated with sharing chem‐sex drugs among MSM.
The assumption that oxidative addition is the key step during the cross-coupling reaction of aryl halides has led to the development of a plethora of increasingly complex metal catalysts, thereby ...obviating in many cases the exact influence of the base, which is a simple, inexpensive, and necessary reagent for this paramount transformation. Here, a combined experimental and computational study shows that the oxidative addition is not the single kinetically relevant step in different cross-coupling reactions catalyzed by sub-nanometer Pt or Pd species, since the reactivity control is shifted toward subtle changes in the base. The exposed metal atoms in the cluster cooperate to enable an extremely easy oxidative addition of the aryl halide, even chlorides, and allow the base to bifurcate the coupling. With sub-nanometer Pd species, amines drive to the Heck reaction, carbonate drives to the Sonogahira reaction, and phosphate drives to the Suzuki reaction, while for Pt clusters and single atoms, good conversion is only achieved using acetate as a base. This base-controlled orthogonal reactivity with ligand-free catalysts opens new avenues in the design of cross-coupling reactions in organic synthesis.
Summary
Background
Severe asthma affects quality of life; however, its impact on workplace productivity is poorly understood.
Objective
To compare workplace productivity—absenteeism and ...presenteeism—and impairment in daily activities in severe and non‐severe asthma over time and identify characteristics associated with presenteeism in severe asthma.
Methods
The Severe Asthma Web‐based Database is an ongoing observational registry from Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. At April 2017, 434 patients with severe asthma and 102 with non‐severe asthma were enrolled (18‐88 years; 59% female). Participants provided comprehensive clinical and questionnaire data at baseline and were followed‐up every 6 months for 24 months. Absenteeism (percentage of time not at work), presenteeism (self‐reported impairment at work) and impairment in daily activities outside work due to health problems in the last week were calculated.
Results
At baseline, 61.4% of participants with severe asthma and 66.2% with non‐severe asthma under 65 years were employed. At younger ages (30‐50 years), fewer severe asthma participants were employed (69% vs 100%). Presenteeism and impairment in daily activity were more frequently reported in severe asthma and in participants with poorer asthma control, poorer lung function and more past‐year exacerbations (P < .01). Over time, deteriorating asthma control was associated with increasing presenteeism. Although absenteeism was not different between severe and non‐severe asthma, worse asthma control was associated with absenteeism (P < .001). In participants with severe asthma, presenteeism was reported more frequently in those with poorer asthma control, poorer asthma‐related quality of life and symptoms of depression or anxiety (P < .01).
Conclusion and clinical relevance
Severe asthma was associated with impairment at work and outside the workplace. Improving asthma control and mental health may be important targets for optimizing workplace productivity in severe asthma. Presenteeism and absenteeism may represent key metrics for assessing intervention efficacy in people with severe asthma of working age.
In the present study, CFRP/Ti6Al4V stacks were machined with abrasive water jet using different process parameters in order evaluate the viability of AWJ industrial application as a substitute of ...conventional drilling. The effect of the stack configuration, the traverse feed rate, the cutting tool (combination of orifice and focusing tube diameter and abrasive mass flow rate), and the pressure over the kerf profile, taper angle, and surface roughness has been analyzed through an ANOVA analysis and related to the physical parameters of the AWJ process. As a result, a positive taper angle is observed in Ti6Al4V while a negative is observed in CFRP in almost all cutting conditions. This leads to obtain an X-type or barrel-type kerf profile depending on the stack configuration. In addition, the surface roughness can be as low as 6.5 μm in both CFRP and Ti6Al4V materials at 95 mm/min when CFRP/Ti6Al4V configuration is used.
Dry machining of aluminum parts has been the most eco-friendly method in an attempt to reduce the use of mineral-based lubricants and other working fluids. The drawbacks of dry machining include an ...increase of contact temperatures and stresses leading to high values of tool wear and a decrease of the tool life. For this reason, more sustainable lubricants are needed as a middle point between waste generation and tool life.
Since 2001, Ionic Liquids (ILs) have attracted interest as high-performance lubricants and lubricant additives. In this work, the lubricating ability of one halogen-containing and two halogen-free ILs used as additives in water has been investigated and compared to a halogen-containing cutting fluid (CF). Tests were performed using a pin-on-disk tribometer for aluminum-tungsten carbide pair. The worn surfaces of the disks and balls were analyzed by optical and scanning electron microscopies, non-contact 3D profilometry and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. It was found that the addition of 1 wt% of one of the halogen-free ILs reduces friction and wear of both aluminum disks and ceramic balls with respect to dry or water-lubricated conditions. In addition, no wear was detected on the ball surface, therefore increasing the tool life compared to the CF.
•Ionic liquids as additives in water are efficient sustainable lubricants.•Results showed friction reductions of more than 70% and negligible wear.•The use of ionic liquids also improved the surface finish inside the wear track.•Water-based cutting fluids using ionic liquids showed potential of extending the tool life.
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•Plasmodium-infected and uninfected mosquitoes fed on hosts treated with artesunate (AS) or sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP).•Feeding on a treated host has no epidemiologically relevant ...effects on the fitness of infected or uninfected mosquitoes.•Infected mosquitoes fed on an uninfected SP-treated host show a significant increase in mature oocysts in the midgut.•This increase is accompanied by a subsequent significant decrease in both sporozoite prevalence (−30%) and burden (−80%).•The mechanisms underlying the two opposing effects of SP on the parasite sporogonic development remain to be investigated.
Assays used to evaluate the transmission-blocking activity of antimalarial drugs are largely focused on their potential to inhibit or reduce the infectivity of gametocytes, the blood stages of the parasite that are responsible for the onward transmission to the mosquito vector. For this purpose, the drug is administered concomitantly with gametocyte-infected blood, and the results are evaluated as the percentage of reduction in the number of oocysts in the mosquito midgut. We report the results of a series of experiments that explore the transmission-blocking potential of two key antimalarial drugs, artesunate and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, when administered to mosquitoes already infected from a previous blood meal. For this purpose, uninfected mosquitoes and mosquitoes carrying a 6 day old Plasmodium relictum infection (early oocyst stages) were allowed to feed either on a drug-treated or an untreated host in a fully factorial experiment. This protocol allowed us to bypass the gametocyte stages and establish whether the drugs have a sporontocidal effect, i.e. whether they are able to arrest the ongoing development of oocysts and sporozoites, as would be the case when a mosquito takes a post-infection treated blood meal. In a separate experiment, we also explored whether a drug-treated blood meal impacted key life history traits of the mosquito relevant for transmission, and if this depended on their infection status. Our results showed that feeding on an artesunate- or sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine-treated hosts has no epidemiologically relevant effects on the fitness of infected or uninfected mosquitoes. In contrast, when infected mosquitoes fed on an sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine-treated host, we observed both a significant increase in the number of oocysts in the midgut, and a drastic decrease in both sporozoite prevalence (−30%) and burden (−80%) compared with the untreated controls. We discuss the potential mechanisms underlying these seemingly contradictory results and contend that, provided the results are translatable to human malaria, the potential epidemiological and evolutionary consequences of the current preventive use of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in malaria-endemic countries could be substantial.
The four families of matrix orthogonal polynomials are considered arising in the truncated Hausdorff matrix moment (THMM) problem. Two of those families are associated with an odd number of moments ...and the other two with an even number of moments. The three-term recurrence relations associated with these four families are investigated. Certain explicit formulas are presented relating the three-term recurrence relation coefficients to the Dyukarev-Stieltjes parameters, the Schur complements and the orthogonal matrix polynomials associated with the THMM problem. The matrix version of the J-fraction is presented for the corresponding four extremal solutions of the THMM problem.
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